A photograph by Neil Hall, a previous winner of the Joan Wakelin bursary, who chose to document the fog collecting project in northern Chile

The Guardian/Royal Photographic Society Joan Wakelin bursary offers a bursary of £2,000 every year for the production of a photo essay on an overseas social documentary issue.

Entry is free of charge and open to all photographers, of any age and nationality. Applicants should submit a written proposal outlining their subject (at 500 words maximum) along with 6-8 images, measuring 1400 pixels as the longest dimension at 72 dpi, showing their approach to the medium and photographic ability.

Applications should include their full postal address, email address and a daytime and evening telephone number.

Applications are via email ONLY and should be submitted to the dropbox here. Please insert Wakelin 2013 in the subject box.

The closing date for applications is Friday 26 July 2013.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview in August at the Guardian offices in London, and the winning photo essay will be published by Guardian News and Media and The Royal Photographic Society Journal in spring 2014.